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Harklight
*Augustus*
Myth
7 posters

    Kindle, IPAD, and the impending doom of books in general

    Myth
    Myth



    Posts : 13
    Join date : 2010-10-14
    Location : Home Alone

    Kindle, IPAD, and the impending doom of books in general Empty Kindle, IPAD, and the impending doom of books in general

    Post by Myth Fri Oct 15, 2010 5:17 pm

    So when's the last time you saw someone under 30 that was reading a real book and not studying for school? (I love my books. They don't take batteries!!)
    My daughter is 13 now, and I'd be willing to bet she will open less than a dozen actual books for reading "for pleasure" in her adult life. The trend towards making phones do everything but walk the dog has almost assured it. Our society has quickly taken steps towards eradicating the need for actually printing literature ever again. Already I've noticed the great number of newspaper publishers who are going out of business due to the availability of that media online. It's truly sad.

    I had so much more to say but now I'm depressed.....
    *Augustus*
    *Augustus*



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    Post by *Augustus* Fri Oct 15, 2010 6:15 pm

    I'm 25 and I read books, infact I have every book Stephen King has written all the way up to From Buick 8. I understand your concern though modern technology is slowly taking over everything, the way we read, socialise, listen to music and watch movies. As the times move foward we have to with it, in the early to mid 90's I bet publishing poetry online was unheard of but whilst it closes doors in some fields of employment to others in other ways. Look at the new movie about Facebook and twentysomething computer geek revolutionised how we socialise on-line. Without such technology we would'nt be friends sharing poetry with each other. On that note I will say I do to a certain extent share your concern but it's an issue of weighing up the pro's and con's I think.
    Harklight
    Harklight



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    Post by Harklight Fri Oct 15, 2010 9:21 pm

    Books are fantastic, perpetual ... and increasingly more valuable due to their lost mass popularity. With concern over losing forests in order to print them, I doubt they'll ever enjoy their past preference. About ten years ago, our government declared we were a paperless society. That didn't sit well with most people and they slammed it when we still received as many paper invoices, statements and unwanted junk mailings. Technology has strong ramifications in our physical, interpersonal relationships. Your 13y/o probably will text more than she speaks; she'll chat on the phone or IM rather than face to face. Times change, and always will, not essentially for the better but we allow progress and have to live within it. We'll survive, just as we did when motorisation was forecast to be mankind's downfall. Meanwhile, my books will remain! Very Happy
    Marise
    Marise



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    Join date : 2010-10-15

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    Post by Marise Sat Oct 16, 2010 1:38 am

    I agree, I'm 20 and I love my books. Especially the classics Shakespeare, Dickens, Dickinson and more recently Harper Lee.
    Although technologoy can't ever replace books in a sentimental way, I do think it provides alot of improvements, not only as Harklight mentioned with the tree preservation, and as Jay mentioned with the opportunities to share on a greater stage but also for the individual.
    For example, someone who needs glasses to read can increase the test size instantly, or invert the colours to reduce stress on the eyes. Someone who has arthritis doesn't have to strain with holding the book open and instead can just run his/her finger over the surface.

    Although technology takes the romanticism out of reading, I think it replaces it with equality. It is allowing literature to reach such a wide audience and I think that is admirable.

    Harklight
    Harklight



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    Post by Harklight Sat Oct 16, 2010 2:11 pm

    Ooh, I was at the public library today. About 40 children were reading in several different age groups. The library is encouraging love of books ... and it's working! They use Computers in another room and can leave afterwards or stay for books. These all chose to stay for the book lounge. Yay!
    Jamie
    Jamie



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    Post by Jamie Sat Oct 16, 2010 7:16 pm

    Our own public library (which I made the website for, go figure) is very involved with the after-school program for the elementary and middle schools right across the road. They have a library sleepover night and all sorts of projects, and the kids always have books in their hands. With only 3 computers and 25 kids there on any given day, some of them have to be reading!! lol

    They'll pry my books out of my cold, dead hands.

    I can't help but wonder, though, if we'll start seeing more ads inside of e-books, much like the ads inside the old Louis L'Amour novels and the paperbacks of the 70's and 80's advertising for other literature.
    Armchair Queen
    Armchair Queen



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    Post by Armchair Queen Mon Oct 18, 2010 10:12 am

    When you buy a book it's yours, but when you download a book onto an electronic reader it belongs to the publisher. I love books, they have an aroma and comforting feel. Being semi paranoid and distrustful I hate the idea of people being able to track what I read and one can just continue to extrapolate.

    Armchair Queen
    Harklight
    Harklight



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    Post by Harklight Mon Oct 18, 2010 8:02 pm

    Owning a book, to read whenever/wherever I choose, beats a downloaded "book". I also imbibe their aroma. Jay makes good points: the 'net serves us all in other ways.

    Inspiring a young person (like Mike's 13y/o) to take time from their busy schedules, instant gratification and IM chats, just to enjoy reading any printed book is a challenge.

    Your second point is also valid: Big Brother(by any interpretation) is inside our homes. Unless I "invite" the world in, I'm kinda fond of home privacy.
    Armchair Queen
    Armchair Queen



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    Post by Armchair Queen Tue Oct 19, 2010 9:45 pm

    I am guilty of using books on DVD for long road trips.
    My husband and I drove 5 hours or so each way last weekend
    to attend his mom's 88th birthday. We listened to "Draco's Tavern"
    a collection of sci-fi short stories and vignettes by Larry Niven, it was great. You find yourself going under the speed limit just so you can listen longer.
    I think I will probably get the book from the library and read it.
    Armchair Queen
    Harklight
    Harklight



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    Post by Harklight Wed Oct 20, 2010 12:15 am

    Ah. There's no need to feel guilty. While I choose music, technology allowed you to enjoy something quite different in a spoken literature form. They're long driving hours. Listening to the Sci-fi, at least you were unlikely to fall asleep at the wheel.
    Jamie
    Jamie



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    Post by Jamie Wed Oct 20, 2010 8:14 am

    Actually, that's a great point. When I was much younger and delivering pizzas for a living--(MUCH younger)--I listened to Isaac Asimov's Prelude To Foundation on audiotape. It was my first exposure to his stories. Now I have over 100 of his books in paperback on my shelf.
    Myth
    Myth



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    Post by Myth Wed Oct 20, 2010 12:10 pm

    Well at least I don't need my reading glasses for the electronic media Razz
    Harklight
    Harklight



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    Post by Harklight Thu Oct 21, 2010 11:09 pm

    lol, Mike. Your daughter would think that good enough reason to not read books.
    Jamie
    Jamie



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    Post by Jamie Mon Jun 13, 2011 7:34 pm

    I actually got a Kindle for Christmas and I love it. It doesn't hurt my eyes like a computer does. I will always have my paper books, but this is something easier to keep with me. I'd rather curl up with a "real" book, but the Kindle is handy to keep with me all day long.
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    cemelie



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    Post by cemelie Tue Oct 04, 2011 11:43 am

    Well, I am in new media studies and there have been research done on this topic. New media is not here not substitute old media. New media is here to complement old media. That saying, books and newspaper publishers will seek a decline in revenue. But the demand for touchable books/papers is still there. One thing for sure, I prefer to read my printed textbooks, being able to highlight/write notes/stick stickies on it, than reading it on Kindle/iPad.

    So @myth, don't be depress. Smile

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